Saturday, December 31, 2011

Iloilo Dinagyang 2012 Parade Route

FINALLY, it can be told that the 2012 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival shall definitely be at the Iloilo Sports Complex, but not as the first judging area as aforesaid.

It shall be the last performance venue for the Kasadyahan Contest on Saturday, January 21, 2012 and the Ati Competition on Sunday, January 22, 2012.

The Festival Executive Board met and approved the action plan for next year’s Dinagyang which spelled out the change. The major parades shall start from the San Jose Church right after the 7:00 AM mass and the traditional walk of the Dinagyang honchos and guests to the Freedom Grandstand would signal the beginning of the street celebration.

There shall still be four judging areas. The Freedom Grandstand shall be the first performance area. Tribes shall assemble along Mapa Street extending up to Rizal and Iznart Streets in one long line. The order of parade for the contestants shall be determined by the drawing of numbers.

The second judging area shall be in front of the newly declared heritage building, the old Iloilo Provincial Capitol. There is a suggestion to shift the performance area nearer the Arroyo fountain for larger space. Stage 2 shall still be under the management of the Iloilo Province.

Stage 3 is at the junction of Hechanova and Luna streets, between the Injap-BDO building and Andok’s. This location was preferred for it is equidistant between Stages 2 and 4; the performance area is bigger than the irregular space around the Lapaz Rotonda which was the original choice; and the viewing stage closes only one street.

The finale of the competition is at the Iloilo Sports Complex (ISC). From Luna Street, the parade shall enter the left gate and pass through the grounds of the West Visayas State University (WVSU) before entering Gate 3 of the ISC. Performances are designated in front of the Grandstand in the concrete volleyball court. After the showdown, tribes are expected to exit at the ISC Gate 2. From there, the performers take the route towards Nabitasan passing in front of Westbridge and through a subdivision road. They will disperse at Jalandoni Bridge.

In-between these judging areas are the street dancing sections of the parade route. First street dance section is after the showdown at Freedom Grandstand and is from J.M. Basa corner Aldeguer Streets to Iznart corner Solis Streets. The street dancing section is further divided into two portions: first is the judging portion where the public is not allowed to get in the way of the performers; and the second portion where the public is allowed to dance at the side but not inside the tribe formation. The tribe shall be expected to continue with their street dance routine in the designated street dancing section even in the portion where spectators are allowed to mingle with them.

The second street dancing section is after Stage 2, from the front of DOT 6 Building to the end of Forbes Bridge at the Treñas Boulevard junction. Judging portion is from DOT to MIWD. The 3rd and last street dancing section is after Stage 3, from the front of WIT to the entrance of WVSU. Judging is from WIT to the Baptist Center. Signage and road markers shall be posted to indicate these sections and portions.